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jurisdiction

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Jurisdiction is defined as the power or authority to decide legal cases.

(noun)

An example of jurisdiction is a court having control over legal decisions made about a certain group of towns.

See jurisdiction in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

the administering of justice; authority or legal power to hear and decide cases
authority or power in general
a sphere of authority
the territorial range of authority
a law court or system of law courts

Origin: ME jurisdiccioun, altered (infl. by L) < OFr juridiction < L jurisdictio, administration of the law < jus (gen. juris,), law + dictio: see jury & diction

Related Forms:

jurisdictional adjective
jurisdictionally adverb

See jurisdiction in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Law The right and power to interpret and apply the law: courts having jurisdiction in this district.
a. Authority or control: islands under U.S. jurisdiction; a bureau with jurisdiction over Native American affairs.
b. The extent of authority or control: a family matter beyond the school's jurisdiction.
The territorial range of authority or control.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English jurisdiccioun

Origin: , from Old French juridicion

Origin: , from Latin iūrisdictiō, iūrisdictiōn-

Origin: : iūris

Origin: , genitive of iūs, law; see yewes- in Indo-European roots

Origin: + dictiō, dictiōn-, declaration (from dictus, past participle of dīcere, to say; see deik- in Indo-European roots)

Related Forms: